Mechanical toy



April 17, 1928. 1,666,527

J. W. CULP MECHANICAL TOY Filed Feb. 25. 1927 INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN W. CULIP, OF J OHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application fil ed February 25, 1927. Serial No. 171,032.

My invention relates to a mechanical toy of the rolling type, and important objects thereof are to provide a toy of the character described which embodies a graduated dial and an associated indicator operable by the rolling movement of the device for registering the dial designations in the sequence of their arrangement on the dial; which is operable to provide an amusing and enter-taming game mainly dependent on the element of chance though somewhat determined by the degree of skill exercised by the operator; which includes novel means for imparting a jerking rolling action thereto and for determining its stopping posi tion; which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efficient in its use, attractive in appearance, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the device.

Figure is a sectional view III III. Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the thawing 1 denotes a hollow cylindrical body portion in cluding a permanently fixed rear end plate and a detachable front end plate 3. The rear end plate 2 is provided with a centrally disposed. outwardly extending trunnion 4. and the front end plate 3 is likewise provided with a corresponding trunnion 5. which is horizontally aligned relatively to the rear end plate trunnion 1.

The t-runnions 4 and 5 are removably journaled for rotation in respective, vertically disposed bearing brackets 6 which are fixed on a suitable base 7. The bearing brackets 6 and base 7 provide a supporting structure on line for rotatahly suspending the body portion 1.

A weight member 8 is fixed interiorly on the wall of the body portion 1. The action of the weight member 8 controls and determines the stopping position of the body portion 1, as the former will normally assume the lowest position by gravity.

An indicator operating mechanism, functioning on the principle of the gravity escapement, is mounted in the body portion 1 on the inner side of the front end plate 3, and includes a substantially semi-circular dial plate 9 and a hearing arm 10. The dial plate 9 is fixedly connected to the inner side of the front end plate 3, as indicated at 11, and the hearing arm 10 is indicated at 12. The dial plate 9 is spaced from the front end plate 3 and extends parallel relatively to the latter.

lVhcn attaching the removable front end plate 3 to the bodyportion 1, the former is so positioned that the dia plate 9, carried thereby, will be disposed diametrically opposite to the weight member 8 fixed in the body portion 1, whereby the dial plate 9 will. normally be in the upper position, relatively to the axial center of the body portion 1, when the latter is in the stopping position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 8.

The outer face of the dial plate 9 is provided with indicia 13, which are arranged along the curved marginal edge of the dial plate 9. The indicia- 13 are regularly spaced, relatively to each other, and consist of the repetition of the numbers from nine to zero arranged consecutively. The indicia 13 is visible through an arcuate slot 14 which is formed in the front end plate 3 and registers with the indicia 13 on the dial plate 9 when the body portion 1 is in the stopping, position.

A. shaft 15 is rotatably journaled in the dial plate 9 and in bearing arm 10. The shaft 15 extends horizontally and carries a fixed indicator finger 16. which is disposed between the front end plate 3 and the dial plate 9. The finger 16 is of a length reaching to the indicia 13, and the free end thereof is visible through the arcuate slot 14 inthe front end plate 3, toindicate or record respective indicia 13.

A ratchet wheel 17 is fixed on the shaft 15 intermediate of the dial plate 9 and bearing arm 10, associated-with the ratchet wheel Gil 17. A detent 18 is pivo-tally connected, as at 19, to the dial plate 9, and carries a pendulum 20 fixed thereto by a rod 21. The latter extends through a guide 22, which is fixed to the dial plate 9 and limits the distance of travel of the pendulum 20 to facilitate the release of the detent 18 from the ratchet wheel 17during the operation of the device.

A coil spring 523 is mounted between the ratchet wheel 17 and the bearing arm 10 and has one end secured to the shaft and teeth of the ratchet wheel 17, w iile the action of the spring 23 is advancingthe latter in the counterclockwise direction to the distance permitted by the advance of one tooth of the ratchet wheel.

The spaced relation of the indicia 13, with respect to each other, is relatively proportionate to the distance of advancement effected by the release of one ratchet wheel tooth. As the ratchet Wheel 17 is advanced by the continued rotation of the body portion 1, in the manner stated, the indicator finger 16 will shift in the countercloclnvise direction to designate successive indicia 13. The free end of the indicator finger 16 carries a fixed pin 24 which projects forwardly through the front end plate slot 3. The pin 24 is provided to facilitate the manual return of the finger 16 to the starting end of the slot 14 after each rolling operation. Such return of the finger 16 will recoil the spring 28 to the proper operating tension. In practice, the device is rotated in, the bearing brackets 6 by the impetus imparted thereto by the hand of the operator, It will, of course, be obvious that the device may be removed from the bearing brackets 6, if desired, and rolled along on a floor or on the ground. The action of the-Weight member'S Wlll impart a erking movement to the rolling operation making the control of the latter a matter of skill, The weight member 8 further restricts the rolling action ofthe body portion 1, and prevents its travel by gravity even on a down grade.

The arrangement of the indicia 13 may be varied to suit conditions found in practice. The indieia 13 may consist of numerical designations arranged in sequence to register the number of revolutions made by the body portion 1, or the numerical designations may scribed comprising a revoluble body portion,

an indicator member carried by said body portion, means for automatically shifting said indicator an equal. predetermined dis tance upon each revolution of said body portion, and means mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping posit-ion of the latter.

b. A mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion, a dial plate provided with regularly spaced indicia, an indicator member pivotally connected in said body portion, and means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for shifting said indicator member distance commensurate to the space between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion.

4:. A mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion, a dial plate provided with regularly spaced indicia, an indi. rator member pivotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for shifting; said indicator member a distance commensurate to the space between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, and means mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter.

5. ii mechanical. toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion, a dial plate provided with regularly spaced indicia, an indicator mem ber pivotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for shifting said indicator member a distance connnensurate to the space between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, and a weight member n'iounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter.

6. In combinatioma mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion including a rear end plate and a front end plate, a dial plate mounted in said body portion and provided with arcuately arranged indicia. said indicia being regularly'spaced with re spect to each. other, an arcuate slot formed ill) in said front end plate registering with said arcuately arranged indicia, an indicator member pivotally connected in said body portion, and means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for successively shifting said indicator member between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion.

7. In combination, a mechanical toy of the character described con'iprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion including a rear end plate and a front end plate, a dial plate mounted in said body portion and provided with arcuately arranged indicia, Said indicia being regularly spaced with respect to each other, an arcuate slot formed in said front end plate registering with said arcuately arranged indicia, an indicator member pivotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for successively shifting said indicator member between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, and a weight member mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter.

8. In combination, a mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion including a rear end plate and a front end plate, a dial plate mounted in said body portion and provided with arcuately arranged indicia, said. indicia being regularly spaced with respect to each other, an arcuate slot formed in said front end plate registering with said arcuately arranged indicia, an indicator member plvotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for successively shifting said indicator member between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, a Weight member mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter, said weight member and said dial plate disposed on opposed sides of the axial center of said body portion.

9. In combination, a mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion including a rear end plate and a front end plate, a dial plate mounted in said body portion and provided with arcuately arranged indicia, said indicia being regularly spaced with respect to each other, an arcuate slot formed in said front end plate registering with said arcuately arranged indicia, an inclicator member pivotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for successively shifting said indicator member between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, a weight member mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter, and means carried by said indicator member for limiting the movement of the latter and for facilitating the return of the said indicia member to its starting position.

10. In combination, a mechanical toy of the character described comprising a cylindrical revoluble body portion including a rear end plate and a front end plate, a dial plate mounted in said body portion and provided with arcuately arranged indicia, said indicia being regularly spaced with respect to each other, an arcuate slot formed in said front end plate registering with said arcuately arranged indicia, an indicator member pivotally connected in said body portion, means actuated by the rotation of said body portion for successively shifting said indicator member between adjacent indicia upon each revolution of said body portion, a weight member mounted in said body portion for controlling the stopping position of the latter, said weight member and said dial plate disposed on opposed sides of the axial center of said body portion, and means carried by said indicator member for limiting the movement of the latter and for facilitating the return of the said indicator member to its starting position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN W. CULP. 

